| Type of Defect | Medical Treatment | Surgical Treatment | Prognosis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acyanotic | |||
| Atrial septal defect (ASD) | Clinical trials using device closure during cardiac catheterization | Open chest/open heart surgery with closure through patch (recommended age: preschooler). | Excellent, with survival rate greater than 99% |
| Ventricular septal defect (VSD) | Clinical trials using device closure during cardiac catheterization | Palliative treatment: pulmonary banding; definitive repair: same as for ASD | Excellent, with 95% or greater survival rate |
| Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) |  In newborns, attempt pharmacological closure with indomethacin (prostaglandin inhibitor) | Open chest: surgical division or ligation of the patent ductus | Excellent, with survival rate greater than 99% |
| Coarctation of the aorta (COA) | Infants or children with CHF: digoxin and diuretics | Open chest: resection of coarcted portion of aorta with end-to-end anastomosis within first 2 years of life Nonsurgical: balloon angioplasty | Fair—less than 5% mortality rate |
| Cyanotic | |||
| Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) | None—supportive prn | Often done in stages with definitive repair accomplished within first year of life | Fair—less than 5% mortality rate |
| Transposition of the great vessels (TGV) | None—supportive prn | Arterial switch procedure during first weeks of life | Guarded—5%–10% mortality rate |